Originally written by Dan Staige.
Bury Your Dead have been a guilty pleasure of mine since I heard a few samples off of Beauty & The Breakdown. I didn’t hear technical mastery or airtight speed, but what I did hear was a rather rare element on the table of metal: Fun. While then vocalist Mat Bruso was hilariously monotone, I found him to be quite proficient in the hardcore craft, staying glued to the tough guy ideal rather than wander into unnecessary clean territory. And while the riff work is clearly open A chug in nature, there was something about the way they didn’t even try to mask the fact that they weren’t really skilled in much other than being heavy that I initially found outrageously comical, but over time attached to me like the fungus on my toenails. Why am I a fan? Because while their music doesn’t blend or create a new form of metal, they prove that you can utilize obvious chemistry between bandmates and create something energizing and fun out of something that remains relatively basic in nature.
So apparently there was alot of skepticism over whether a new vocalist could “perform” at the same level of Bruso. Honestly, I didn’t even notice a difference with the opening landslide of “Sympathy Orchestra”, as I thought it was indeed the same man. But after a bowel-loosening low nose dive you can hear new gruffman Myke Terry hinting at what the rest of the album may or may not contain: some clean-“er” vocals, and quite possibly choruses. Somehow I knew before it started that they’d abuse the rookie and extort him to do the experimental dirty work. “Fever Dream”, while highly energetic and very typical of the band, changes personalities in the uneasiest of fashion at 1:15. Some may like it, however, I liken it to immensely depleted brake pads on worn rotors. Just as they seem to have dropped the electronica/industrial sound samples for this album, they replace it with some light, whispy storybook excerpts, which to me is clearly a trade down. “Infidel’s Hymn” reminds me of a Snuggle fabric softener commercial, and “Year One” encourages the girls in the audience to sing along before a very surprising guitar solo that actually outlasts the five second mark! When I arrived at this point, I was believing they had changed a little too much, employing substance that are a bit too commonplace and lost their heavy energy in the process. Alas, the day is saved with “Disposably Yours”, opening with a blatant “FUCK!!!” followed by the supercharged chug the band is known for. Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like they could lift a house off the foundation at 1:22? I mean I literally had this brief blaster on repeat for three days. The song the band chose for the closer, “Dust to Dust”, combines a tingly emotional element with pure stomp’n’crush so thick you could choke on it. I challenge you not to headbang at 1:14, with teeth baring like a disgruntled doberman. However, it sounds as if the Blink 182 frontman throws in his two cents of pure shit toward the tail end…”We wanted it this way-eee“. Someone pass the Pepto! Well, it’s their band and they can do whatever they want with it, it’s just my hope that they don’t self destruct with the cleans.
So I’m sure the question all of you are dying to have answered is whether or not I am still a BYD fan. The answer is a hesitant “Yes”. Their music is one helluva boost if you are a regular at the gym, and also goes well with a side of amphetamines. I still find their work to be of bare bones complexity and idealism, but I also find the band to continue to gel quite well together, as they obviously can still stir up some serious energy and write a catchy song or two, but a few of the new pieces give me the shits. “Hands to Hide the Shame” & “Disposably Yours” are the frontrunners in angry amusement here, as I employ them frequently, with the majority of the remainder being solid and trademark BYD, meeting expectations to the fan of the clubbing caveman approach in hardcore metal.
